How to fix Google Chrome “Waiting to Download” error

When you try downloading files from the internet, you may encounter an issue where the download won’t start, and Chrome gets stuck on the “waiting to download” stage. This can be frustrating, but luckily, there are several troubleshooting tips you can try to overcome this problem on the Chrome browser.

How to fix Google Chrome “Waiting to Download” error

Do you have a stable internet connection?

A common reason for the “waiting to download” error is a faulty internet connection. If your internet connectivity is disrupted or slow, it can prevent files from downloading in Chrome. To fix this, ensure you have a stable internet connection by restarting your WiFi router or connecting to a different network. You can also perform a network speed test to check for any issues. If the problem persists, it’s recommended to contact your internet service provider (ISP) for assistance or try downloading the files on a different network.

Resume Downloading

If the download gets stuck, you can try resuming the download from the Chrome downloads section. Access the Chrome downloads section by pressing Ctrl + J, scroll to the file stuck on “waiting to download,” and click the Resume button.

Reload the Webpage

Sometimes, the webpage may not load correctly due to a slow network speed, causing the file download process to get stuck. In this case, you can try reloading the webpage. Click the Reload button next to the URL bar of the Chrome browser and wait for the page to load fully. Then, try downloading the files again to see if the download starts immediately.

Server side problem

If you can download files from other websites but not from a specific website, there may be technical issues with that particular website. In such cases, you can inform the website administrator or owner of the problem. They can then work on resolving the issue on their end, allowing you to download files from their website using Chrome.

Restart the Chrome browser

Suppose you’re experiencing random glitches or bugs on Chrome; force closing the browser and relaunching it. It can often resolve these issues. To force close Chrome, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to access the Task Manager, find Google Chrome under the Apps tab, right-click on it, and select End Task. After a few seconds, relaunch Chrome and try downloading the files again.

Turn off antivirus or firewall

If you’re downloading a file with a .exe suffix (executable file), your computer’s antivirus software may block the download, considering it a potential threat. In this case, temporarily turn off your antivirus software before downloading the files. Open the Windows Security app, go to Firewall & Network Protection, click Private Network, and disable the toggle under Microsoft Defender Firewall. Once the download is complete, you can re-enable your security settings.

Set-up download folder

If the target folder specified for file downloads in Chrome doesn’t exist, the files won’t download to that folder. Make sure you have set the correct download location on your computer. Launch Chrome, enter chrome://settings/download in the URL bar, and press Enter to do this. Under the Location tab, click Change to set the correct path to a folder on your computer’s hard drive.

Use Incognito Mode

If you still face the “waiting to download” error on Chrome, you can try using Incognito Mode. Press Ctrl + Shift + N to launch Incognito Mode on Chrome. This mode allows you to browse without saving any history or cookies and can often resolve various issues with downloading files.

Restart your computer

Restarting your computer can sometimes resolve the issue if none of the above solutions work. Press the Windows key to open the Start menu, click the Power icon at the bottom-right corner, and select Restart. After your computer restarts, relaunch Chrome and try downloading the files.

Use Another Browser

If you’ve tried all the troubleshooting tips and still can’t download files on Chrome, you can use Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, or Brave to download the files. Following these troubleshooting tips, you should be able to fix the “waiting to download” issue on Chrome and download your files successfully. Thank you for reading!